post news network, Bhubaneswar, May 23: The mercury level is soaring by the day and the heat outside has forced you to stay indoors during most of the summer vacation of your ward. Barring the odd summer camp that your son has attended, he has also been confined indoors. Moreover, this summer you did not go for a vacation like you did last year, or the year before. Now, that your son’s vacation is drawing to a close you want to give him a surprise. If this is what there is in your mind, plan a weekend trip to the second highest waterfall of the country. It is just about 270 km from Bhubaneswar.
Barehipani waterfall is situated at the famous Simlipal National Park in the Mayurbhanj district. This 1,309 feet high falls may be your next weekend destination. According to a government website, the best time to visit the place is between October 1 and June 15. This place perhaps is the best destination within Orissa where you may spend a couple of days at the height of summer.
The prevailing tranquility in the area surrounding the fall, the ambience that the national park provides and the other close-by spots that you may visit, will make your weekend both enjoyable and memorable. Moreover the rolling water falling from that height amidst the scenic beauty formed by the green mountains indeed offer a pleasing and refreshing experience to every visitor.
At this time of the year, not just families trying to make the best of whatever is left of their ward’s holidays, but also students and the upwardly mobile young professionals flock to this site to unwind. “I have visited this waterfall twice. The prime advantage of visiting the site is, one can go to a couple of tourist sites in the adjacent areas. Because of its proximity to other waterfalls and other sites nearby, it remains significant,” said Anurag Srivastava, a 2nd year engineering student in KIIT.
There are others who feel that this place in Mayurbhanj is not properly promoted as a stand-alone destination. “I didn’t know about this tourist site earlier. Once, along with my friends I visited the Simlipal National Park and we visited the site on our way to the park. The scenic beauty formed by the mountain and the flowing waterfall is appeasing to the eyes. But during the summer it’s best to visit during the mornings and the evenings,” said Seema Sahoo, a housewife from the city.
This fall, which attracts a number of visitors during the summers and the winters, is the second fall in the famous Simlipal National Park. The other is Joranda waterfall. It is, however, not as high compared to the Barehipani waterfall. However, authorities there allow visiting the site only during the summers and the winters.
Manoranjan Mahapatra, Tourist Officer Baripada said, “People often come to see the site only during summer and winter. During monsoons the park is closed and thus people cannot enter the site at that time. As of now, tourists are allowed to enter only between 6am to 9am. The entry fee per head for entering the park is Rs 40. With this ticket they can travel into the park and see all the tourist attractions there.”